Annual General Meeting 2003 of Barry Callebaut AG

Downloads

Shareholders adopted every motion

Zurich/Switzerland, December 10, 2003 – The ordinary Annual
General Meeting of Barry Callebaut AG, the world’s leading
manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate products, was held on
Wednesday, December 10, 2003, in Zurich under the chairmanship of
Andreas Schmid, Chairman of the Board, and adopted every motion
proposed by the Board. The dividend per registered share was
increased from CHF 6.90 for the previous year to CHF 7.00. Ernst
& Young AG, Zurich, were confirmed as auditors and group
auditors of the company for fiscal year 2003/04.

The General Assembly re-elected the present directors Rolando
Benedick, Dr Johann Christian Jacobs, Andreas W. Keller and Andreas
Schmid (Chairman) for another term of office of one year. Pierre
Vermaut retired with the thanks of the meeting for his services. Dr
Walther Andreas Jacobs, in Hamburg, independent entrepreneur, was
elected as new member to the Board (new: Vice Chairman).

With annual sales of
approx. CHF 3.6 billion for fiscal year 2002/03, Zurich-based Barry
Callebaut is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality
cocoa and chocolate products – from the cocoa bean to the
finished product on the store shelf. After the acquisition of
Brach’s Confections Holding, Inc. in September 2003, Barry
Callebaut operates more than 30 production facilities in 17
countries and employs approximately 9,400 people. The company
serves the entire food industry, from food manufacturers to
professional users of chocolate such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs
or bakers, to retailers. It also provides a comprehensive range of
services in the fields of product development, processing, training
and marketing.